A slightly flexible, rod-shaped virus found in muskmelons in California was partially purified from broadbean (Vicia faba) by differential centrifugation and zone electrophoresis. The virus, named muskmelon vein necrosis virus (MVNV) is apparently restricted in the cucurbitaceae to the genus Cucumis. MVNV induced a distinct veinal necrosis in varieties of Cucumis melo in all but the terminal leaves. It infected numerous legumes systemically, and induced local lesions on several hosts, including Chenopodium amaranticolor and Gomphrena globosa.
A serological relationship with red clover vein mosaic virus (RCVMV) was revealed in gel diffusion tests against RCVMV antiserum with electrophoretically purified MVNV treated with detergent. MVNV had a normal length of 674 mµ and a diam of approximately 15 mµ. MVNV had a thermal inactivation point between 50 and 55°C, 2-7 days of longevity in vitro, and a 10–3-10–4 dilution end point, depending on the source plant. The green peach aphid Myzus persicae transmitted MVNV very efficiently in a nonpersistent manner from Vicia faba to C. melo var. reticulatus ‘Persian’, but less efficiently when reciprocal transmissions were attempted. The aphid acquired virus during probes as short as 10 sec. Virus transmission increased with increased probe duration up to 30 sec, but declined following longer probes.